Lothians' stars named on Queen's honours list

A PARALYMPIAN swimmer, a plucky pensioner who refuses to slow down despite her advancing years and a woman whose revolutionary ideas created the best nursery in Britain are among the local people recognised in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Jim Anderson, from Broxburn in West Lothian, is one of Scotland's most successful paralympic athletes, winning a total of 17 medals over five Games. He receives an OBE for services to his sport, adding to an MBE he was given at the end of 2004.

The 46-year-old, who suffers from cerebral palsy and has been dubbed "Jim the Swim", said: "I was shocked when I got the letter as I wasn't expecting anything.

"It was a complete surprise as I already have an MBE which I'm very proud of. The OBE is a very special award and I'm thrilled to bits to be honoured by Her Majesty the Queen."

Pensioner Phyllis Herriot, 83, is still as active in the community as she was in her days as a city and Lothian regional councillor, and her community activities have earned her an MBE.

Mrs Herriot is assistant secretary of the Scottish Pensioners' Forum, a member of Craigentinny Community Council, a member of the East Edinburgh Crime Prevention Panel, chair of the Moira Park Tenants Association, a Save Meadowbank Stadium campaigner, a vocal critic of Edinburgh Council's home-care cuts and a staunch Hibs supporter, to name but a few of her varied activities.

She said: "It does keep one busy but I enjoy it and I'm very grateful to people that have backed this honour.

"You don't volunteer for these things to get recognised, and I really see this honour as a recognition for everyone who works in the voluntary sector."

Lynn McNair, head of the Cowgate Under-5s Centre, is to receive an OBE for her services to early years education, after her work helped the centre win Nursery World Nursery of the Year 2008 on the back of an outstanding Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education report last year.

Ms McNair, 49, from Willowbrae, said: "I'm absolutely overwhelmed.

"I've been involved in caring for children for over 30 years and all of my work is guided by their spirit.

"In many ways, I also owe this honour to my family and especially my father, John McNair, who died at Christmas-time last year and always told me to stick to what I believe in."

Colin Liddell, 61, from Linlithgow, director of media consultancy Liddell Thomson, receives an OBE for services to business and to charity in Scotland.

Mr Liddell, who started his media career as an Evening News reporter, was instrumental in fundraising for the foundation of the Festival Theatre in the late 1980s, is involved in the Fairbridge Trust, the Tullochan Trust, Scottish Ballet and the Scottish National Orchestra.

He said: "I'm quite humbled by it but also delighted and proud."

Also on the honours list is Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Simpson's Centre administrator Gill Mitchell, 53, who receives an MBE for her voluntary service to the Simpson's Special Care Babies charity.

Mrs Mitchell, from Kirknewton, said: "It's such a wonderful thing for the charity, the unit, the NHS and for me personally."


Cumming and Howson among Scots to be recognised

HOLLYWOOD star Alan Cumming and artist Peter Howson are among the Scots recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List today.

Golfer Nick Faldo and veteran horror actor Christopher Lee are both knighted in the Honours List, while awards also go to Royle Family actress Sue Johnston, celebrity hairdresser Vidal Sassoon and TV chef Delia Smith.

Cumming, 44, originally from Aberfeldy, Perthshire, receives an OBE for services to film, theatre and the arts and for his work as a gay rights campaigner.

Glasgow artist Howson, whose painting depicting Madonna in the nude with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie sold for a record price this month, also receives an OBE.

The Ayrshire artist dedicated the award to his daughter, fiancee and parents.

Dr Andrew McLellan, 64, who steps down this week as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland, receives a CBE.

Principal of Aberdeen University, Professor C Duncan Rice, is the only Scot to be knighted.

Ronnie Smith, general secretary of Scotland's biggest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland, gets an OBE for services to education.

An MBE goes to Joe Grant, the former general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents thousands of rank-and-file officers.

Poetry is recognised in the list, with knighthoods for former poet laureate Andrew Motion and Christopher Ricks.

Frances Lawrence, the widow of murdered London headmaster Philip Lawrence, receives an MBE for services to charity.


LOTHIAN HONOURS LIST

CB (Order of the Bath)

• Graham Donaldson. (North Berwick, East Lothian)

LVO (Royal Victorian Order)

• Professor (Norman) Ashley George Mowat. Physician to The Queen in Scotland.

DBE

• Professor Joan Kathleen Stringer, CBE. For services to local and national higher education. (Edinburgh)

CBE

• Christopher Michael Clarke. Director, National Gallery of Scotland. For services to the visual arts. (Edinburgh)

OBE

• James Allan Anderson, MBE. For services to swimming. (Broxburn, West Lothian)

• Professor David John Breeze. Former chief inspector of ancient monuments (Edinburgh)

• Mrs Mary Gray Cuthbert. For public and voluntary service. (Edinburgh)

• Professor Mitchell Peter Grant. For services to science. (Edinburgh)

• Colin Liddell. For services to business and to charity in Scotland. (Linlithgow, West Lothian)

• Ms Lynn Jacqueline McNair. For services to early years education. (Edinburgh)

• Thomas Arthur Nelson. For services to forensic science. (North Berwick, East Lothian)

• Professor Ian Ralston. For services to archaeology in Scotland. (Edinburgh)

• The Rev Professor Douglas William David Shaw. For charitable services in Scotland. (Edinburgh)

• Ronald Smith. For services to education. (Mid Calder, West Lothian)

• Peter William Syme. For services to higher education. (Edinburgh)

• David Ogilvie Maclogan Wedderburn. For services to the construction industry. (Edinburgh)

• Henry Ferguson. For voluntary service to football and to the Seagull Trust. (Edinburgh)

• Mrs Phyllis Herriot. For services to the community. (Edinburgh)

• Euan James Stuart MacDonald. For services to people with motor neurone disease in Scotland. (Edinburgh)

• Mrs Gillian Barbara Mitchell. For voluntary service to Simpson's Special Care Babies' Charity. (Kirknewton, West Lothian)

• Maurice Edward Wilson. (Edinburgh)